Monday, 15th December, 2014



Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has defended his team's decision to let Frank Lampard leave the club at the end of last season.

Lampard first moved to MLS side New York City on a two-year-deal and then returned to England to join Chelsea's title rivals Manchester City on a loan deal until December.




Since then the 36-year-old has been in decent form, scoring six goals in 14 matches. His form has forced the Citizens to show keen interest in retaining the services of the former England international.

 


Mourinho though refuses to look back at the decision to let Lampard leave, insisting that he is looking to prepare a Chelsea team for the next ten years.

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"The project is to prepare for the next 10 years, not the next year – we made the right decision", Mourinho was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Drawing comparisons with defender John Terry and striker Didier Drogba, both of whom are in the twilight of their careers, the Portuguese insisted that keeping a "big player" like Lampard would stop the development of the squad.

"You can argue 'You have John Terry and Didier Drogba'.

"Different. Drogba is a striker that is coming to help and support the team.

"John Terry is the best central defender in English football and it doesn't matter how old he is.

"The nucleus of the team has to be developed and to have a big player like Frank we would stop the development of the other guys."

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